Public Statements

Issue Position: Campaign Announcement

Issue Position

Poinsett County farmer John Hutchison today announced he will seek the Republican nomination in the Arkansas House of Representatives District 52 race. The House district was redrawn following the 2010 census and now includes most of Poinsett County and parts of Craighead, Jackson and Independence counties.

Hutchison, who resides in Harrisburg, says his campaign focus will be on fostering private sector job growth, protecting Arkansas' agriculture industry and further developing the state's energy resources.

"I am truly honored to be running for an opportunity to serve and represent the citizens of House District 52," said Hutchison. "As someone who spent decades in the farming industry, I will work hard to grow rural Arkansas' economy, encourage job creation and make our community a great place to live and build a business."

Hutchison is a former rice, soybean and catfish farmer and is currently employed with Greg Bornhoft Farms in Harrisburg. He is a member of the Farm Bureau, former member of the Cattleman's Association and Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the founding board for the L'Anguille River Watershed Coalition.

"It's no secret that the family farm is on the decline," said Hutchison. "We cannot continue to sit back and allow rural America to dry up and more jobs to be lost. If elected, I will look for ways to provide incentives for businesses to come to our communities and employ our neighbors and friends."

Hutchison said he also wants the state to explore Arkansas' renewable energy resources such as hydroelectric, biodiesel, wind and solar power. "Just as our local high school in Harrisburg is currently studying the benefits of biodiesel fuels, our rural communities have an abundance of homegrown energy resources that can be used to power our vehicles, homes and farm equipment."

Hutchison is a native of Harrisburg and attended Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. He is a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Waldenburg. He and his wife, Karen Bornhoft Hutchison, have been married for 30 years and have three children, Alissa and Andria Hutchison, Emaly Stonecipher, her husband Eric, and one granddaughter, Emilia.

"We are stuck in place in rural America, with a status quo that is not working for us," said Hutchison. "We need to break the stalemate and advance. That requires talking with those on opposing sides, challenging stale thinking, and searching for solutions on which we can agree and work together, as we hold fast to principles."

"As the grandson of Swiss immigrants, I know how important it is that we work to preserve the American dream for future generations," said Hutchison. "My goal is to be accessible to the people I represent and be their conservative voice in the Arkansas Legislature